Rescue tank



Oct. 3, 1933. H. E. GRIESHABER RESCUE TANK Filed Sept. 18 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 3, 1933. H. E. GRIESHABER RESCUE TANK Filed Sept. 18, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 wMMf Patented Oct. 3, 1933 RESGUETANK Hugo E. Grieshaber, New London, 001111., as-

signor to.v Electric Boat Company, Groton, Cnn., acorporation of New Jersey Application :September 18, 1930 Serial No. 482,671

1 1 claima'i (or 114-1 This invention relates to rescue devices for use with submarine boats, and more particularly to what I term a rescue tank and associated parts for effecting rescue of the personnel of a disabled 5 and submerged submarine boat.

It is known to provide submarine boats with access hatches through which the personnel may escape when the boat is disabled and submerged in shallow water. This manner of escape is not possible, howevergat appreciable depths, due to the great pressures obtaining at depths of a hundred feet or more.

One of the main objects of my invention is to provide simple and efiicient means whereby the personnel of a disabled and submerged submarine boat can be rescued with a minimum of delay and without being subjected to the pressure of the water in which the boat is submerged.

A further object is to provide a'buoy and means associated therewith for securing the buoy to the submarine boat by a cable, thebuoy being released and serving to markthe position of the boat when it reaches the surface. Another object is to provide a rescue tank having means 120-: acting with the cable for properly positioning the tank upon the hatch trunk of the disabled boat, the tank also having associated therewith means for guiding the tank into'position upon the boat trunk, this guiding means being removable to permit of ready access to the tank from the boat. Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear from the detailed description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional view through an access hatch trunk and associatedparts of a submarine boat and through a rescue tank in accordance with my invention seated upon the trunk;

Figure 2 is a sectional view through the access hatch trunk of the boat and associated parts, showing the buoy in position within the trunk;

within the tank;

Figure 4 is a sectional view through the boat hatch trunk and associated parts, "showing the normal "positions-ofv the hatch trunk covers;

Figure 5 is a semi-diagrammatic" view illustrating the operation of drawing the tank downwardly-onto the boat hatch trunk.

My invention is intended for use with a sub marine boat comprising a hull 1, a superstructure 2, and an access hatch trunk 3 extending through the upper portion of the hull. The upper, end'of this trunk is provided with a cover 4 for closing the same, this cover being hingedat 5 and providedwith an arm 6. A toggle 7 is hinged at one end to arm 6, the joint of this toggle-being connected by a link 8 to theupper end of a rod 9 slidable through a stufling box 10 extending through hull 1 *A hand wheel 11 is'suitablyseas cured to the lower end of rod 9 within hull 1, for

imparting endwise movement to the rod in either direction. By pulling the rod downwardly, cover 4 is swung about its hinge-5 into open position.

The cover 4 has associated therewith locking gear 12 of known type for securing the cover closed. A gasket 13 is suitably mounted in'the underface of cover 4 and seats upon the coaming at the upperend of trunk 3 to form a watertight closure therewith, when the cover is in closed position. The locking gear 12 is detachablysecured, in a suitable manner, to a clevis member l4.suitably secured in cover 4. Normally, the locking'gear remains in position attached to clevis member 14 but, when it is desired to utilize the marker buoy, the locking gear is detached from the clevismember and removedfrom within the trunk 3, as will be later explained.

The inner or lower end of. trunk 3 is pro.-. vided witha main cover 15 hinged to the trunk at so 16 (Fig. 4). This main cover 15, when closed, is securedinclosed position by swing bolts '17 or' in any other suitable 'manner; A gasket 18 .is suitably mounted in the upper, face of 'coverj15 and seats upon the coaming at the lower end of 83 the trunk to form a watertight closure therewith; The main coverl1 5 is provided with an opening 'therethrough ,forming a manhole 19. This manhole is normallyclosed by a manhole cover 20 hinged at .21 to cover 15. A hook bolt 22 passes through manhole cover 20 and engages beneath the adjacent portion of cover 15 for securing cover 20 in closed position. A nut 23 screws upon the upper end of bolt 22 and bears against thecollarzs of anindicating and 'lockmg device 25 through which the bolt 22 passes, collar 24 beingsuitably connected to the bolt, in a known manner, toprevent rel'ativeturningf movementbetween this collar and the 'bolt. Normally, nut 23' is turned tightly onto bolt 22150 as 101) to 'hold' manhole cover 20 in closed position. A gasket 26 is suitably mounted in the upper face 01." cover 15, adjacent manhole 19, and the peripheral portion of manhole cover 20 seats upon thisgasket so as to form a water tight closure 105 therewith. 1 H

Manhole cover 20 is provided on the upper face thereof, at a point coincident with the axis of hatch trunk 3, with an eye member 27. A cable 28 is coiled upon the covers 15 and 20, one end of this cablebeing provided with a shackle 29 which is suitably secured, as by a pin 30, to eye member 27. An eye 31 is secured upon the other end of cable 28 and is adapted to be detachably secured in a suitable manner, as by means of a pin 32,

to'a shackle 33 suitably secured to a buoy 34 of a size and shape to fit into the trunk 3; This buoy is provided, at the lower portion thereof, with suitably disposed brackets 35 in-which are mounted dogs 36, these dogs being urged outwardly in a known manner toward the surround ing wall of the trunk. A ring 37 is suitably-secured in the trunk and, when the buoy 34 is in position in the upper portion of the trunk, the dogs 36 rest upon this ring and hold'the buoy against downward movement. before inserting the buoy into the trunk, the locking gear for the door 4 is removed.

Normally, the buoy 34 is removed. from trunk and is suitably stowed within hull Land the lower trunk cover 15 is held in open position bysuitableltackle 38, in a known manner and asshown in'Fig. 4. The trunk 3,is, therefore, normally unobstructed and, when the boat is on the surface,'g ives ingress to and egress from the hull 1. when the boat is submerged, the cover 4 is secured in. closed position by the 'flocking gear 12. The cable 28 is held in positionupon the covers 1 5'and20 by lashings comprising a suit able rope 39, which; passes over and about the coiled cable andfis'i'n'serted through eyes 40'and 41- suitablydisposed[aboutv covers 15 and 20, respectively. "Lashing. the cable: in this manner serves to effectively prevent ,uncoiling or disarrangement thereof, thus maintaining the cable in proper positionupon the" covers while permitting closing andopening of cover 15 as conditions may require. 'In case the boat is disabled and submerged-locking gear 12 is first detached from clevis 14 andlis removed from the trunk 3. Eye 31 of the'cable 28 is then secured to shackle 33 of buoy 34, and the buoy is then positioned within the upper portion of trunk 3 as in Fig. 2. Cover 15 is then movedinto closed position and, as it approaches this position, the lashing rope 39 is cut'at suitable points and to such an extent-thattheuncut threads of thisrope will readily break when subjected toslight tension. The cover 15 is then completely closed and is secured tightly in this position by means of the swing bolts 17'. Water is then admitted to trunk 3from the sea so as, to equalizethe pressures at the opposite sides of cover 4, this cover being then opened so as to permit the buoy 34 to leave the trunk. This buoy has sufficient buoyancy to break the uncut threads of the lashing 39, by the pull exerted upon cable 28,.- and to riseto the surface with. the attached cable.

For flooding the trunk 3, I provide a flood pipe 42,,open to the sea at one end, the other end of is controlled by a .valve 43 diSpOSEdFWithiIi hull 1, this valve. being normally closed. I also preferably provide a drain pipe 44 leading from trunk 3, adjacent the lower. end thereof, this pipe being controlled by a valve. operated by a hand wheel 45 suitably secured upon the valve stem 46. This,

provides means for, draining water from the trunk into the boat. After buoy 34 is positioned within trunk 3, valve 43 is opened, admitting water, from the sea to the trunk, the valve in the drain, pipe 44 being closed at this time. When the'pressures at the opposite sidesof cover 4 are equalized, this cover is opened and the" buoy 34 rises to the surface, as previously stated. I i

As above noted,

The buoy and cable and associated parts cooperate with a rescue device, in the form of a tank, for rescuing the personnel of the disabled boat. This tank is illustrated in Fig. '1. The tank comprises a body portion 47 and top and bottom heads 48 and 49, welded or otherwise suitably secured to the body portion. An access hatch trunk 50 is suitably secured to head 48, the upper end of this trunk being normally closed .by a cover 51 hinged to the trunk at 52 and provided with a securing dog 53. A hatch trunk 54 is suitably secured to head 49 and extends,

upwardly through this head to a considerable distance, thistrunk being disposed centrally of head 49. Trunk '54 is provided with a projection 55 forming, with the adjacent walls of head 49 and ballast tank 56 which extends about the interior of this head, a drum casing. A winding drum 57 .is disposed within this casing, this drum being keyed upon a shaft 58 rotatably mounted, at one end, in'a bearing sleeve 59 suitably secured to .one sidewall 55a of the drum casing. The other end. portion of shaft. 58 is rotatably mounted through a combined stuffing box; and bearing structure 60 suitably secured through the other sidewall 55b of the drum easing. A worm wheel 61 is secured upon the end of shaft58 which projects intothe tank. This worm wheel meshes with aworm 62 secured upon the lower end of a shaft 63 rotatably mounted in brackets 64 suitably secured to-wall'55b. The upper portion of shaft 63 is rotatably mounted through a support 65 suitably secured to one of two angle brackets 66 secured to the body 47 of the tank. Albevel gear 67 is secured upon the upper end of shaft 63 and meshes with a bevel gear 68 secured upon a drive shaft 69 rotatably supported, .in a suitable manner, by the brackets 66. ,A handwheel 70 is secured upon shaft 69 for rotatingit. Thisprovides means operable from within thetank for rotating the drum in either, direction desired.

, A cover 71 is provided'for closing the upper end of trunk 54. This cover is hinged, at 72, to

.the trunk and suitable means, such as swing bolts 73, is provided for securing the cover tightly closed- A gasket 74 is suitably mounted in the underface of cover 71 and is disposed to seat upon theupper end of trunk 54, when the cover is closed, to form a watertight closure therewith. Cover 71 1s provided with a depending supporting structure 75 to which is bolted,- or otherwise suitably secured, a bracket 76. A yoke 77 is suitably mounted in this bracket, as by means of ball'bearings, to turn on anaxis coincident with the axisof trunk 54. This yokeis provided. at its lower end, with a bell shaped guide element '78Lfor guiding cable 28 during winding thereof onto and offof the drum: A guide sheave '79 is mounted inyoke 77, on a'horizontal-axis, this sheave being disposed to' guidethe cable in, the travel/thereof to and from the drum, the central 'line of the portion of the cable which passes downwardly from the sheave within 'yoke'fl'? being coincidentewith the axis on which the yoke turns. The yoke 77 provides aswinging mounting for the sheave which assures proper delivery of the-cable toand from the drum.

A cone shaped-guide structure 80 is provided at the lower .end of trunk 54. This structure screws 85, tothe upper end of base section 81 and is connected to an air pipe 96-openmg,.at

the boat.

and cooperates with shoulder 82 for clamping this .sectiont fiangej83 of the trunk. A body section 86 extends downwardly from base section 81 and forms a continuation thereof, the outer face of the] body section being flush with thebuter face of the) base section. This body section is provided at its upper end, with a collar 87, which fits snugly through a corresponding opening in the base section and is prov-ided'at its upper end, with a flange 88 extending over a shoulder 89 of section 81. Securing dogs 90 are suitably mounted upon collar 87am engage beneath lugs 91. of base section 81 for securing body 86 to the base section. Arms 92 extend inwardLy from coliar 8'7, radially thereof, and support a guide ring 93 disposed centrally cf the collarrfor reception or the cable 28. A guide element 94 is suitably secured, as by welding, to the lower end or body 86 and constitutes the tip ofthe cone structure. This guide element is provided with a downwardly tapering opening'for reception of cable '28. The base section Bland the body :86 and tip94 constitute a cone guide structure, the outer face of whichis smooth and .free of obstruction, this structure'being particularly'adapted to guide the trunk into centered relation to the trunk 3 of It is particularly pointed out that the exterior diameter of collar 87., taken through flange 88 thereof, is somewhat less than-th'e minimum interior diameter of the upper end of base section 81. By turning the; dogs -90 into position to release the body section from the base section, this body section can be raised upwardly through the base section into trunk :54 and, the

; cover "71 being open and the cable .suthciently slacked, the body 86 and the tip 94 carried thereby, can be disposed within the tank, thus leaving an unobstructed passagefrom the interior of hull 1 into the tank. Y

An air flask 95 is suitably mounted in the tank its lower end, into ballast tank 56,,at the top thereof, the upper; end of this pipe opening through head 48 ofthe tank and being for connection, in s suitable manner, to

Y hose to a rescue ship for supplying air under pressure to the pipe. This pipe is provided with valves 97 and 98 disposed respectively above and below the connection between pill? -9 and-the air flask. Normally, valve 97 is closed, the air from flask 95 being suflicient .for ordinary rescue operations. The connectionrbetween this flask and pipe 96 is controlled by valves 99' and 10. disposed respectively above andubelow a connection 101 to an air pipe 102 which opens 54 adjacent the top thereof. This pipe 102 is controlled by a valve 103. A vent pipe 104 opens into the tank from the top of ballast tank-56, this vent pipe being controlled by a valve 105.

. A gate valve 106 is provided for venting the upper portion of trunk .54 into the tank. .A connection 107 is provided between the ballast tank 56, at the bottom thereof, and a passage 108-form'ed in the wall of trunk 54 and extended to within a short distance of the lower end of this trunk; The connection 3107 inc-ludesasea valve] 109 and control valves 110 disposed at opposite sides of the valve 109. Normally, all of. the valves are closed; V i

In the use of the apparatus, the buoy is rele from the disabled boat and rises to the surface, in the manner previously describei The tank may beeither" towed or'lowered from a. rescue ship into the water adjacent thebucy, cover 71 of'54 being closed and the MLM guide structure being secured in position. The cable'is then detached .fromthe buoy and is secured to the drum in a suitable manner, as by means of a short length of cable permanently secured to the drum-and passed over the sheave F19 and downwardly through the guide elements 78 and 94.. The cperatingcrew thenenter the tank through hatch trunk 50, after which the cover .Slis tightly secured closed. The 'cable is then wound ontothe drum so as to draw the tank downwardlyonto trunk 3 of the boat. The positinn of the tank as it approaches theboat is illustrated in Fig. 5. Before winding the cable onto the drum, water may be admitted to the ballast tank 56 for reducing the positive buoyancy of the tank to the desiredextent. As the tank is pulled downwardly into proximity to trunk 3 of the boat, the 'coneshaped guide structure enters this trunk and serves to center the tank relative thereto so that a gasket 111 suitably mounted in the lower end of trunk 54 seats upon the upper end of trunk 3 and forms awater tight closure therewith, when theair trapped in the upper portion of trunk 54 is vented by opening valve 106. The tank is then held firmly seated upon the trunk of the boat 'by the preponderance of pressure. exerted upon head 48 and cover 5L The water is then-blown out of trunk 54 into ballast tank 56, the ballastt'ank being at this time vented by means of the vent pipe 104 and the valve 105. For blowing the water out of the trunk 54 but comparatively low pressure is required. Cover 71 is then released and is swung upwardly and inwardly within the rescue tank into position to leave an unobstructed passage through the upper endof trunk 54, the bracket 76 and associated parts moving upwardly out'of the trunk in the movement of the cover. To permit-of this movement of the cover, the cable drum is rotated in unwinding direction so as to provide suflicient slack in the cable 28 to permit of opening of the cover '71; After cover 711. has been opened, the dogs for securing the body section 86 of the cone structure, one of which dogs is shown-at 90, are turned into position to release body section 86 and this section is then moved-upwardly through trunk 54 into turned into position to release the manhole cover 20., which is then swung into open position. This gives access from the interior of the hull of the boat to the rescue tank, the men passing from the boat, by means of a, suitable ladder, into trunkv 3 and then through trunk 54 into the tank.

After the men have entered the tank from the boat, manholecover 20 is closed-and the bolt 22 is turned into securing position, after which nut 23 is turned tightly onto this bolt. 86 of the cone structure is then replaced and moored in position, and cover 71 is secured closed. Water from the ballast tank56 is then drained into hatch trunk 3 and trunk 54, after which water-is admitted to trunk 54 from the sea to equalize pressures. positive buoyancy, then floats upwardly from the boat hatch trunk 3 and rises to the surface, the rate at which the tank rises being controlled by the winding drum and the associated operating Body section The rescue tank, due to its means.- When the tank reaches the surface,

cover 51 is. opened andthe men escape through trunk 50, by means of a ladder 112. This ladder is connected at its upper end, by pin and slot connections 113, toabracket 114 secured to head 48 of the tank; Whenthe ladder isin use, it rests upon cover 71, which is :thenclosed as in Fig; 1. When it is desired to open the cover 71, ladder 112 is raised and is swung into position to avoid interference with opening and closing of the cover. The rescue tank is of proper strength to withstand the high pressures which obtain at great depths. i

What I claim is:- l

1.- In combination with a submarine'boat, an access hatch trunk extending through the hull,

removable covers for the ends of the trunk,

boat trunk, a guiding member extending from the 7 lower end oiv the tank trunk and adaptedjto enter the boat trunk and center said tank trunk relative thereto, said guiding member being adaptedto receive and guide a cable passing therethrough, cable winding meanscarried by v and operable'i'rom within the tank, and means for attaching to the lower cover of the boat trunk one end of a cable-windable onto andlofi of said winding-means.

' 2. In combination with' a submarine boat, :an

tank, and means for attaching ja'cjable" tothe upper side of the inner cover of the boattrunky' 3. In combination'with a submarinefboat, an access hatch trunk extending through the hull; removable covers for the ends of the trunk, means for opening theouter cover from within the hull, a rescue device in the form of a'tank pro-' vided with a trunk opening through l ts bottom and adapted to seat upon the outer endofv the boat trunk, cable winding and guiding means carried by and operable from within the-tank,

a downwardly tapering guiding and centering structure depending from the lower end of the tank trunk andconcent'ric therewith, said structure being adapted to enter the boat trunk and center the tank trunk relative theretoytlie guiding structure having a cable receiving and guiding element at its lower end, said structure including a detachable body section -movable through the tank trunk-into'the tank, and means for attaching a cable to the upper side of the inner cover of the boat trunk.

4. In combination with a submarine'boat, an access hatch trunk extending through the hull, removable covers for the ends of the trunk, means for opening the outer cover from within the hull, a rescue device in the-form of a' tank provided with a trunk opening through its bottom and adapted to seat upon the outer end of the boat the tank trunk, cable guiding means carried by the tank trunk cover and arranged'to dispose the downwardly extending run 01f a cable coaxially with said tank trunk, a guidingand centering structure tapering downwardly from the tank trunk and concentric therewith,- said structure including a detachable body section provided at its lower end with a cable receiving flooding and venting the tank trunk. 5. In combination with a submarine boat, an access hatch trunk extending through the hull, re-

movable covers *for the ends of the trunk, means for openingthe outer cover from within the hull, a rescue device inthe'form of a tank provided with a trunk opening through its bottom and adapted to seat upon the outer end of the boat trunk, a removable cover for the upper end of the tank trunk, cable guiding means carried by the tank trunk cover and arranged to dis pose'the downwardly extending run of a cable coaxially with said tank trunk, a guiding and centering structure tapering downwardly from the tank trunk and concentric therewith, said structure including 'a detachable body section provided at its lower end with'a cable receiving and guidingvelement coaxial with the tanktrunk, said body section when detached being movable through the tank trunk into the tank, means for'jattachi'ng a cable to the inner cover of the boat trunk, cable winding means carried by and operable from within'thetank, means for flooding and venting the tank trunk, and means for flooding the boat trunk.

' -6. In a: rescue device for use with a disabled and submerged submarine boat, a tank provided with a trunk-opening through its bottom, a removable cover for the upper end of the trunk, cable guiding means carried by the cover and movable into and out of the trunk in the closing and opening of the cover, aguiding and centering structure tapering downwardly from the lower end of the trunk and concentric therewith, said structure including a detachable body section provided at its lower end with a cable receiving and guiding element, said body section when detached being movable through the trunk into the tank, cable'winding means carried by and operable trom within the tank, and means for flooding and venting the trunk.

7 7; In a rescue device for use with a disabled and submerged submarine boat, a tank, a member defining an opening through the bottom of the tank and adapted for cooperation with an access hatchstructure of a-submarine boat, and a guiding and centering structure tapering downwardlyifrom said member and concentric therewith, said structure including a detachable body sec tion provided at its lower end with a cable receiving and guiding element, saidsection when w ly from said member and concentric therewith,.

said structure including a detachable body section provided at its lower end with a cable receiving and guiding element, said section when detached being movable through said member into the tank, and cable guiding and winding means carried by andoperable from within the tank.

9. In a rescue device for use with a disabled and submerged submarine boat, a tank having a trunk opening through its bottom and adapted for cooperation with an access hatch structure of a submarine boat, a guiding and centering structure tapering downwardly from the lower end of the trunk and concentric therewith, said structure including a detachable body section provided at its lower end with a cable receiving and guiding element, said section when detached being movable through the trunk into the tank, a. removable cover for the upper end of the trunk, cable guiding means carried by the cover and movable into and out of the trunk in the closing and opening of the cover, and cable winding means carried by the tank.

10. In a rescue device forum with a disabled and submerged submarine boat, a tank having a trunk opening through its-bottom and adapted for cooperation with an access hatch structure of a submarine boat, a guiding and centering structure tapering downwardly from the lower end of the trunk and concentric therewith, said structure including a detachable body section provided at its lower end with a cable receiving and guiding element, said section when detached being movable through the trunk into the tank, a removable cover for the upper end of the trunk, cable guiding means carried by the cover and movable into and out of the trunk in the closing and opening of the cover, cable winding means carried by the tank, and means for flooding and venting said trunk.

11. In combination with a submarine boat, an access hatch structure including a trunk and a removable closure for the outer end thereof, a rescue device in the form of a tank having a trunk opening through its bottom and adapted to seat upon the boat hatch structure and to form a water tight closure therewith, cable winding means carried by and operable from within the tank, a cable windable onto and off of said winding means and passing through said trunk opening centrally thereof, and means for attaching one end of the cable to the boat hatch structure centrally thereof.

HUGO E. GRIESHABER. 

